Hosiery and method of manufacturing the same



J. L. BEERS May 18, 1943.

HOSIERY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1939 Inventor I JosephLfiear;

fifitorne y.

May 1-8, 1943. J. L BEERS 2,319,772

HOSIERY AND METHOD MANUFACTURING THE SAME 7 Filed Dec; 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JasephLfieans May 18, 1943.

.1. LBEJZE" HOSIERY AND METHOD OF MAEZUFACTURING THE 3AE1E Filed Dec. 5, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jizvemr .fwepkifieers 7' 4 Patented May 18,1943

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE on or MANUFACTUR- HOSIERY AND METH ING IIHE SAME Joseph Beers, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to Julius Kayser & 00., Brooklyn, N. Y.

' Application December 5, 1939, Serial No. 307,608

31 Claims.

ofthe stocking. According to the present invention, these parts are joined during th knitting operation.

It is also an important objectof the invention to provide astocking blank wherein the usual relatively wide, bulging, and unsightly looping seams at the heel and fo'ot'sections are obviated,

and narrow, flat seams of smooth, even appearance are formed therein.

The invention moreover is characterized particularly by the provision of a stocking wherein, and a-method whereby, the free loops at the tip ,of the toe portion, as well as the free loops at the bottom portion of the heel tabs are united by knittingrelatively'narrow strips of fabric on a knittingmachine and, during the knitting of such strips, interknitting therewith said, free loops, accordingly producing a stocking without connections requiring extra looping operations at said portions.

It is also one of the characteristic features of the invention to provide a stocking of thetype mentioned wherein the heel tabs are knitted directly onto, and as continuations of, the-high heel portions of a combination leg and foot blank, and the sole portions of said blank are interknitted with theheel tabs as the knitting thereof progresses, and the normally free loops at the bottom of the heel tabs and/or at the tip of the toe are united by means of a knitted strip with which said normally free loops are interknitted during the knitting of said strip.

Other importantobjects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter. I

In order that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have,

in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out a nos- 1 sible embodiment of the invention;

, Inthese drawings: I Figure 1 is a perspective of a completed stockins constructed in accordance with the inven- Figure 2 is an elevation on a reduced scale of a combination leg and foot blank from which the stocking shown in Figure 1 is made;

Figure 3 represents the blank of Figure 2 with the heel tabs knitted therein;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the blank'shown in Figure 3 with the bottom edges of the heel tabs and the tip of thetoe'united by means of knitted strips;

Figure 5 diagrammatically shows a portion of the blank represented in Figure 2 severed and folded for engagement with the needles of a knitting machine intended to knit heel tabs onto,

and as continuations of, the high heel sections of the blank; Figure 6 diagrammatically shows the engagement of loops ,with sets of knitting and nonknitting needles;

Figure '7 diagrammatically illustrates the mode of transferring loops of the foot portion for interknitting engagement with the heels tabs as the knitting thereof progresses;

Figures 8 and 9 show the mode of uniting the edges of the heel tabs;

Figure 10 diagrammatically illustrates the transfer of the edge loops at the bottom oi the heel tabs;

Figures 11 to 14 inclusive diagrammatically show the'mode of uniting the edges at the tip of the toe.

Having more particular reference .to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, I have shown in Figure l the completed stocking l, including the welt 2, the leg 3, the high heel sections 4, the heel tabs 5, the instep 6, the

- sole sections 1, and the toe 8. In carrying out my improved method, the stocking l is preferablymade from a blank, such asshown in Figure 2, wherein the welt 2, the leg 3, with the high heel sections 4, the instep 6, nd sole sections 1, and toe 8 are knitted contiguously on one machine. The high heel sections 4, together with the sole sections! and toe 8, may be rein;- forcedby introducing additional yarns in the usual manner.

At the point between the high heel sections 4- of the leg 3 and the sole sections 1 of. the

.foot, where the blank is to be severed for the 50,

insertion of the heel tabs, there is knitted series I of partial loose courses In which extend from the selvedge edges for a predetermined distance into the body of the blank, the length of the partial loose courses depending upon the desired width of the heel tabs to be inserted in the fabric.

' -stead event, the usual The provision of the partial loose courses l0, it will be understood, affords a convenient gu ding line for the severing ofthe fabric and, for that purpose, the feed of the additional reinforced yarn is preferably stopped during the formation of said partial loose courses. Subsequent to the separation of the fabric as stated, the foot portion is folded over the leg portion, and the sole sections 1 are folded upon the instep section B in the manner more clearly represented in Figure of the drawings. By folding the stocking blank in the manner specified, it will be appreciated that the marginal rows of loops l2 of each of the high heel sections 4 and the marginal row of loop 13 of each of the sole sections I lay on astraight line, as indicated at H, so that said rows of loops [2 and I3 may be topped on the bank of needles of a knitting machine intended to knit the heel tabs.

It is to be noted that, because of the folding of the blank as above set forth, the loops ,of the foot and sole sections are reversed so that, in the topping operation, the sinker portion of the marginal row of loops l3 of each sole section 1 will engage the corresponding needles of the heel tab knitting machine, whereas the needle. portion of the marginal row of loops l2 of each high heel section 4 will engage the associated needles of said heel tab knitting machine, in the manner more'clearly represented in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The heel tab knitting machine is provided with two sets of needles diagrammatically shown in Figures 6 and '7, one set of needles l5 being nonknitting needles, the other set of needles l6 being adapted to knit in the usual way. As shown, the non-knitting needles l5. preferably consist of needles having shortened beards, which prevent the loops I3 on said needles from being pressed. 05 during the knittingof the heel tabs 5. It is also possible to use ordinary knitting needles inof the shortened beard needles and, in this presser edge, which is disposed opposite said needles, may be removed so that the needles will not press off, or the needles may be so mounted as to be moved away from their associated presser edge, which will likewise prevent pressing oif.

Associated with the non-knitting needles ii are transfer points I 1 devised to pick the loops l3 off said non=knitting needles l5 and transfer said loops for interlooping engagement with the adjacent 'end loops I. of the courses l9 constituting the heel tabs 5 as the same are being knitted.

The loops IS on the non-knitting needles ii are transferred the distance of one or more wales, as necessity or preference may dictate. In" Figure 7, I have illustrated the single wale transfer. According to this mode of operation of knitting the heel tabs 5 and simultaneouslyjoining the sole portions 1 thereto, the transfer points I! descend and pick all of the loops l3 off the nonknitting needles .IS and transfer said loops one' needle distance, which places each end'loop successively in engagement with the end knitting needle of the row of needles It. An intermediate course 20 may be knitted on the needles l6 between each transfer operation to provide the necessary fabric for the formation of the heel and to insure suflcient elasticity in the foot. This operation is repeated until all the loops l3 on the non-knitting needles I! the distance of one needle knitted to form a seam 2| tions 1 to the heel tabs 5.

at a time and inter- 'the heel tabs,

The transfer operation causes the marginal loops of the sole sections I to become interlooped with the adjacent marginal loops of the heel tabs 5 and, accordingly, no seaming operation is necessary to unite the same. Furthermore, due to the transfer of the loops in the manner specified, the foot fabric is turned automatically at substantially right angles so that the finished blank assumes the proper shape to fit the foot of the wearer.

As stated, the invention contemplates uniting certain parts of the blank by interknitting said parts. In Figures 8, 9, and 10, I have shown the manner in'which the heel tabs may cording to this feature of the invention, after the completion of the heel tabs 5, the blank is folded upon itself to bring said lower edges of the heel tabs adjacent one another so that the marginal row of loops 23 of each heel tab edge 22 engaged respectively sets of non-knitting needles 24 and 25. Arranged between the spaced sets of non-knitting needles 24 and 25 is a set of knitting needles 26, preferably two in number, although this number may be increased if desired. A yarn 21 is adapted to be suitably fed to the knitting needles 2 in order that short courses 28 forming a strip may be knitted therefrom.

Associated with each set of non-knitting needles 24 and 25 are sets of narrowing points 29 and 30 respectively disposed to engage the rowsof loops 23 and progressively transfer them in the manner set forth in the description of the knitting of the heel tabs, whereby. the end loop of each row will become interlooped with the adjacent loops of the partial courses 2!, as more clearly shown in Figure 10 of the drawings.

It will be understood that the toe section of the foot at the point 3| (Figure 1) may be joined in the same manner as the lower edges of and in Figures 11 to 14, I have shown how this can be accomplished. As represented in these figures, the adjoining portions, for instance, those portions 32 and 33 of the marginal course at one side of the toe fabric, are engaged respectively on the two relatively spaced sets of and 33 and progressively transfer said loops for interknitting connection with the adjacent loops of said partial courses during the knitting thereof. Likewise, the remaining adjoining portions 34 and 35 of the marginal course at the other side of the toe fabric are engaged respectively on the two relatively spaced'sets of non-knitting needles have been transferred uniting the sole por- 24 and 25 (Figure 13) and yarn is fed to the'knitting needles 26 for the knitting of shortcourseo. the sets of narrowing points 29 and u again operating to engage the rows of loops at said portions 34 and 35, and progressively transfer said loops for interknitting connection with the adjacent loops of said short courses during the knitting thereof. In this manner, there is produced an interknittingseam between the toe portions 32-43 and 34-15 as indicated at 30 and 31 in Figures 1 and 4, having the same overlapping interknitted construction as the seam at the bottom of the heel tabs, more fully shown in Figure 10. i

Of course,

be interknitted at their lower marginal edges 22. Ac-'- may be on two relatively spaced it will be understood that the toe leg blank including the leg, high heel sections, and heel tabs, is made in one operation on a first machine, and then transferred to asecond machine for the knitting of a foot blank, including the instep, sole, and toe portions.

It is pointed out that the transfer of the loops from the inactive or non-knitting needle l2--l3 or 24-25 to the active or knitting needles l5 and 26 produces a strong and flat seam because, in the manner clearly shown in Figures 7 and 14, the transferred loops from said non-knitting needles are placed in overlapping relation with the needle loops of certain successive courses being knitted on the knitting needles, a needle loop of the next successive course thus passing through the overlapped loops of the preceding course so thatsaid overlapped loops become engaged with the'sinker loops of said successive course.

After the completion of the blank, as shown in Figure 4, .the free selvedges 38 thereof may be seamed together as i customary to constitute the back seam 39, and the sole seam 40 (Figure l) thus forming a complete stocking.

I wish it to be understood that the stocking construction and the method of forming the blank therefor may slightly vary without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, those modifications coining within the scope of the following claims are to be considered within the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A full-fashioned knitted stocking comprising aleg fabric, a foot fabric, highand low heel fabrics, and sole fabrics, needle loops of the low heel fabrics being interknitted with sinker loops of the sole fabrics, and the open edge of the low heel fabricsinterknitted together to close the heel.

2. A full-fashioned knitted stocking comprising a leg fabric, a foot fabric, heel fabrics, and

sole fabrics, certain loops of the heel fabrics being interknitted with certain loops of the sole fabrics, and the terminalcourse of one of said heel fabrics being interknitted with the terminal course of the other heel fabric.

3. A stocking consisting of a combination leg fabric and foot fabric, heel tabs knitted into said blank and having loops arranged in overlapping relationship with loops of the foot fabric, said loops of the heel tabs passing completely through the overlapping loops and interknitting the same, and the terminal courses of said heel tabs being interknltted.

4. A full-fashioned stocking formed from a blank having heel tab portions terminating in free loops and at least a substantial part of the other edges of the stocking provided with a selvage, the said stocking having the terminal loop edges of said heel tab portions joined toportions to form a seamtherefor, each of at least 6, A full-fashioned stocking formed from a blank having foot portions terminating in free loops, the said stocking having said foot portions Joined together by yarn knitted into a strip with selvedge portions interknitted with said loops.

LA full-fashioned, machine-knitted stocking,

having two groups of terminal wale loops. seamed together by knitted yarngthe. said knitted yarn having its wales extendingsubstantially.at right angles to the wales shavingksaid terminal loops.

8. A ful1-fashioned;-= machine-knitted stocking made from a blank' havingrboth selvedge edges and edges formedof fre'e :terminal wale loops, the said stocking having the selvedge edges sewed together to'form' a stocking seam or seams, and the said terminal loop edges joined together by yam knitted into a strip with selvedge p rtions interknit with said terminal wale. loops.

9. A full-fashioned, machine-knitted stocking, made from a blank having both selvedge and edges formed of free terminal wale loops, the said stocking having its terminal wale loop edges joined by yarn knitted into a plurality of courses and wales with certain wales interknit with said terminal wale loops. I

10. Knitted fabric having a knitted seam, the knitted fabric having'edge portion formed of loops, and said seam comprising knitted yarn having regular courses and wales with the wales running lengthwise of said seam andinterknit with said edge loops.-

11.111 knitted hosiery, fabric portions each having an edge formed of terminal wale loops, and knitted yarn Joining the loops of one of said portions to the loops of another of said portions, at least a substantial part of said knitted yarn having regular courses and wales with the wales parallel to said edge and interknit with said edge loops. l

12. A stocking having edge portions and yarn a substantial number of said yarn loop being interlooped with one and one only of said edge portions. I

13. A full-fashioned knitted stocking having terminal loops of certain of its portions interknitted with terminal loops of certain other of its portions, and the selvedge edges thereof,

seamed. I v 1 14. A full-fashioned knitted stocking having terminal loops of certain of its portions intergether by yarn interknitted with said terminal loops.

5. In a full-fashioned stocking, a heel structure comprising two-fabric portions, each portion having a plurality of wales extending. to the end edge'thereof and each of-said wales termiknitted with a separate thread to terminal loops of certain other of its portions, and a seaming thread interconnecting the selvedge edges of the stocking. i v

15. In a stocking, a structure comprising knitted fabric having portions relatively disposed to provide two adjacent rows of terminal wale loops, said fabric portions being seamed together by'yarn knitted into a strip of regular courses of wales, the selvedge loops of which are interknitted with said terminal wales loops.

16. Full-fashioned hosiery having knitted portions, each formed of wales terminating in free loops at the end edge thereof, the free loops at one of said end edge portions beingseamed to the free loops at another of said end edge portions, the seam for said end end portions comprising narrow knitted fabric having courses extending across the seam width and wales running lengthwise of the seam, each loop in said end edge portions being interlooped with an individual loop of said narrow fabric and no wale of the narrow 24. A full-fashioned stocking of flat knit fabric having the bottom edges of the heel portion joined by knitted yarn to form a heel seam for the stocking, said knitted yarn having a plurality of its loops interknitted with only one of said bottom edges and having a plurality of other fabric portions; at least a substantial part of said knitted yarn having regular courses and wales with the wales parallel to said edges and interknit with said edge loops, wherein the knitted yarn comprises at least two wales and one of said wales is interknit with loops in one of the end portions, and the other of said wales is interknit with edge loops opposite the folded end portion loops. 1

18. Knitted fabric having a knitted seam, said seam comprising edges of the fabric united by yarn knitted into courses and wales.

19. A stocking comprising fabric having opposite edge portions, and yarn knitted into connected courses and wales and interlooped with said opposite edge portions to form a knitted seam therefor. a

20. A full-fashioned stocking comprising flat knit fabric formed of wales and courses and having opposite edgeportions, and yarn knitted into wales and courses and interknitted'with said opposite edge portions to form a knitted seam.

21. A full-fashioned stocking comprising fiat knit fabric formed of wales and courses and having opposite 'edge portions, and yarn knitted into wales and courses and interknitted with said opposite edge portions to forma knitted seam, said yarn wales extending longitudinally of said seam.

22. A full-fashioned stocking comprising flat knit fabric formed of wales and courses and having opposite edge portions, and yarn knitted into wales and courses and interknitted with said opposite edge portions to form a knitted seam, certain of said yarn wales being interknitted with one of said opposite edge portions and certain other of said yarn wales being interknitted with the other of said opposite edge portions.

23. A full-fashioned stocking of flat knit fabric having opposite edges united by yarn to form a seam therefor, said yarn being knitted into loop formation, a plurality of loops of said yarn be ing interknitted with one of said edges and a pinrality of other loops of said yarn being interknitted with the other, of said edges, at least a substantial number of said interknitted loops being interknitted with only a single edge.

loops interknitted with only the other of said bottom edges. I

25. A knitted fabric having a knitted seam, said seam comprising at least the edge Wale loops of two opposite fabric edge portions and a seaming yarnknitted to form wales and interlooped with wale loops in both of said fabric edge portions,

at least one of said seaming yarn wales for at least a part of its length being interlooped with only one of said fabric edge portions.

26. A stocking comprising heel fabric, the opposite edges of said fabric meeting at the bottom of the stocking heel, and yarn knitted into connected courses and wales and interlooped with at least certain opposite edge portions of said fabric to form a seam therefor.

27. A stocking comprising foot fabric, opposite edges of said fabric meeting at the heel of the stocking foot, and yarn knitted into connected courses and wales and interlooped with at least certain opposite heel edge portions of said fabric to form a seam therefor.

28. Knitted fabric having a knitted seam, said seam comprising at least two fabric edges united together by means of seaming yarn, said yarn being in the form of fabric having knitted courses and wales and being interlooped with said edges.

2'9. Knitted fabric having a knitted seam, said seam comprising at least two fabric edges interlooped with seaming yarn,said yarn being knitted and forming'a plurality of courses and at least two wales.

30. Knitted fabric having a knitted seam, said seam comprising at least two fabric edges interlooped with seaming yarn, said yarn being knitted and forming a plurality of courses and wales.

31. A seam structure in a full-fashioned flat knit stocking formed of courses of wales having opposite edge portions, said seam structure comprising narrow fabric of regular courses and wales, certain of said narrow fabric wales being interknitted with certain wales forming one of said edge portions and certain other of said narrow fabric wales being interknitted with certain wales forming the other of said edge portions.

JOSEPH L. BEERS. 

